General Hospital Stars Pay Tribute To Longtime Legend Jacklyn Zeman After Her Death At 70

One of the landmark soap operas that has lasted throughout the medium’s lifespan is ABC’s General Hospital. Over the years it has broken hearts, shocked audiences, and launched many careers over its 60-year run. Among those who were notable fixtures on the longest-running soap opera in production was actor Jacklyn Zeman, whose character Bobbie Spencer was a constant on the show, as she appeared in episodes over the course of four decades. It is with a heavy heart that we must report Zeman’s death at the age of 70, which has been accompanied with heartfelt tributes from her series co-stars. 

Zeman's passing was announced by the official Twitter for General Hospital, with no cause of death specified. Celebrating the life of a woman who had been on the show since 1973, save for an almost three-year gap between 2010 and 2013, those messages read as follows:

Tributes from Jacklyn Zeman’s co-stars were just as heartfelt, starting with a message from ’80s rock sensation Rick Springfield. Known for his portrayal of Dr. Noah Drake, a character romantically linked to Bobbie Spencer, Springfield sent his condolences along with some photos of himself and Zeman from their time together on the show:

That same sort of love is felt by not only legacy cast members, but also more recent actors who had the pleasure of working with Jacklyn Zeman. Parry Shen, who currently plays lab technician Brad Cooper on General Hospital, is one of those actors, and he shared part of what was so fun about working with Zeman during the modern era of the series: 

Kathleen Gati, best known by General Hospital fans for her role as Dr. Liesel Obrecht, also sent her love to Jacklyn Zeman and her family and friends. Reflecting on their time together as cast mates, Gati's statement was short but emotionally charged: 

Frank Valentini, the current EP of General Hospital, also took time to acknowledge Zeman's passing with a statement. As the character was still active, up until the actor's death, this sorrow will absolutely carry over into how Valentini and his crew will alter Bobbie Spencer's fate to pay tribute to Jacklyn Zeman's passing. Here's how Mr. Valentini's statement reads: 

Perhaps the saddest, and most understated token of tribute is that of actor Laura Wright. Portraying the current incarnation of Carly Corinthos, the illegitimate daughter to Jacklyn Zeman's Bobbie Spencer, Wright acknowledged her on-screen mother's passing with two simple emojis, while also sharing a video of Zeman celebrating General Hospital's 60th anniversary: 

Worlds like General Hospital can get pretty intense, and sometimes weirdly in tune with promoting Disney products like Doctor Strange or playing a part in ABC programs such as The Bachelor. However, the relationships between the actors that make it tick balance those moments with true sweetness, and that’s clearly part of what Jacklyn Zeman leaves behind in her legacy of soap opera excellence. You can stream General Hospital with a Hulu subscription, and go back to watch the legendary run this actress had on the iconic soap opera.

We here at CinemaBlend extend our deepest and most heartfelt sympathies to Ms. Zeman's family and friends as they navigate this difficult time of memory and grief.